Post-war design used as AA on the Richelieu class battleships. These mountings were radar-controlled and had improved shell-handling capabilities compared to the pre-war 100 mm (3.9") Model 1930.
Barrel was an autofretted monobloc type with a semi-automatic sliding wedge breech mechanism.
| Designation | 100 mm/55 (3.9") Model 1945 |
|---|---|
| Ship Class Used On | Richelieu Class
Prototype on Albatros |
| Date Of Design | 1945 |
| Date In Service | 1948 |
| Gun Weight | 4,056 lbs. (1,840 kg) including breech |
| Gun Length oa | N/A |
| Bore Length | 216.5 in (5.500 m) |
| Rifling Length | N/A |
| Grooves | N/A |
| Lands | N/A |
| Twist | N/A |
| Chamber Volume | N/A |
| Rate Of Fire | 20 - 25 rounds per minute |
| Type | Fixed |
|---|---|
| Weight of Complete Round | 50.5 lbs. (22.9 kg) |
| Projectile Types and Weights 1 2 | HE Model 1945: 29.36 (13.32 kg)
HE Model 1951: 29.36 (13.32 kg) |
| Bursting Charge | N/A |
| Projectile Length | N/A
Complete round: 42.8 in (108.8 cm) |
| Cartridge Case | 100 X 1,145 mm (light alloy) |
| Propellant Charge | 8.84 lbs. (4.01 kg) BM7 |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,805 fps (855 mps) |
| Working Pressure | 17.8 tons/in² (2,800 kg/cm²) |
| Approximate Barrel Life | N/A |
| Ammunition stowage per gun | 1,000 rounds 3 |
- ^HE rounds used German Zt Z S/30 mechanical time fuzes, later versions had a very sensitive nose fuze. The Model 1951 was intended for night firings.
- ^
Actual French designations HE OEA Mle 1945 (day) HE OEA Mle 1951 (night) Starshell OEcl Mle 1945 - ^Outfit for Jean Bart in January 1957 consisted of 8,906 HE rounds (day), 3,000 HE rounds (night) and 600 Starshells.
| Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|
| 40 degrees | 18,590 yards (17,000 m) |
| 45 degrees | 18,880 yards (17,260 m) |
| AA Ceiling | about 37,070 feet (11,300 m) max |
| Designation | Jean Bart (12): CAD Model 1945
Albatros (1) 1a: Prototype CAD Model 1945, later production CAD Model 1945 |
|---|---|
| Weight | 58,532 lbs. (26,550 kg) |
| Elevation | -8 / +70 degrees |
| Rate of Elevation | N/A |
| Train | -90 / +90 degrees |
| Rate of Train | N/A |
| Gun Recoil | N/A |
| Loading Angle | Any |
- ^Albatros was a destroyer converted to a gunnery training ship during 1947 - 1948. As part of the conversion, two of her 138.6 mm Model 1927 guns were landed and she was equipped with a variety of weapons including a German 10.5 cm Dop. L. C/37 mounting. This was replaced in 1951 with the prototype for the CAD Model 1945 which in turn was replaced by a production mounting in 1953.
- These mountings were controlled by four gyro-stabilized directors that were patterned after German designs. Train and elevation were controlled via a Ward Léonard RPC system and there were also semi-automatic and manual backup systems.
"Les Cuirassés: Dunkerque, Strasbourg, Richelieu & Jean Bart" by Robert Dumas
"Battleships: Allied Battleships in World War II" by W.H. Garzke, Jr. and R.O. Dulin, Jr.
"French Battleships: 1922 - 1956" by John Jordan and Robert Dumas
"French Destroyers: Torpilleurs d'Escadre & Contre-Torpilleurs 1922 - 1956" by John Jordan and Jean Moulin
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Special help by Matthew Rodchenko
21 May 2006 - Benchmark
29 November 2009 - Added photographs and information on projectiles
08 October 2015 - Added information regarding Albatros
25 January 2024 - Converted to HTML 5